Italian Coast Guard Rescues 6,500 Migrants In Single Day

Italy's coast guard says it rescued some 6,500 migrants from flimsy boats off the coast of Libya on August 29 -- one of the largest influxes of refugees in a single day so far in 2016.

The Italian authorities said on August 30 that it carried out 40 separate rescue missions, pulled mostly African migrants who were packed on board scores of boats -- including flimsy rubber rafts -- that were dangerously unstable in high seas.

About 1,100 migrants were rescued by Italian authorities on August 28 from boats in the Strait of Sicily as they tried to reach Europe.

Italy's coast guard said more refugees were expected to set sail this week because of favorable weather conditions.

The International Organization for Migration said on August 26 that about 105,000 migrants had reached Italy by boat so far in 2016. Many set sail from Italy.

The IOM said an estimated 2,726 men, women, and children have died so far in 2016 trying to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean.